Shades of Blood and Shadow

Shades of Blood and Shadow, Angeline Hawkes’ latest collection, brings together 13 tales from different eras, three of them appearing in print for the first time.

Each of the stories is set in an interesting time in history, from in ancient South America to Chernobyl after the nuclear blast to past and present day Scotland. The stories read like the premises of bloody fairy tales that range from love-fueled deception and a crossover of worlds during all hallows eve in “Samhain” to “The Relic: Father Santiago’s Bone,” my favorite because of how the usual premise can break out and do what you expected it to do but didn’t think the author would go for it but are extremely glad that she has, where a witch burned at the stake during the Inquisition casts a curse that echoes through the centuries.

One of the best tales in the book is “The Woeful Tale of Fiona MacLean,” which is about two lovers separated by death and time and, amidst all the usual tragedy and romance, also contains what I believe would be an accurate reaction to being haunted by a good looking ghost with a penchant for doing domestic chores (Saying “Thank you” instead of “Gaaah!” and calling an exorcist).

Angeline fits her writing style to the story at hand, moving from brooding and emotional in a romantic story to a fast-paced chase scene in the next. The stories in Shades of Blood and Shadow read like fairy tales. It’s easy to get sucked into them, but a lot of the time, the tale ends too quickly, making you wish that, much like in a fairy tale, you could turn the page and the story would continue.

The book feels very much like a Bauhaus song: filled with dark recesses that draw you in, then leave you wanting.